Flush tank valve operating device



May 29, 1934. c. w. BROWN FLUSH TANK VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Filed June 13, 1933 SMALL Patented May 29 1934 rnusn TANK VALVE OPERATING DEVICE v Charles Watkins Brown, San Diego, Calif. Application June 13, 1933, Serial No. 675,623 I 8 Claims. (cu-s1) This invention relates to toilet flush valve operating devices and particularly to such of those devices which from the same operating handle are capable of performing a dual function.

' With the increase in population in congested centers and the wastage of water by careless users, the problem of a sufiicient water supply has become one for serious consideration of city engineers. During periods of drought, this problem m has in some localities become very acute. Not only has it been necessary to consider ways and means of obtaining a greater supply of water but ways and means have been sought to prevent the waste of water. This waste occurs not only through its use for unnecessary purposes, but also by the use of excessive amounts for proper uses. In my Patent Number 1,780,810 I have described a means for avoiding the unnecessary use of water in toilets.

trolling the amount of water used in toilets, no new tank or bowl is necessary for the installation of the new valve mechanism.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved operating device for controlling the operation of the valve mechanism of a toilet flushing device wherein by different types of movement of the handle will vary the amounts of water permitted to enter the bowl.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a handle-operated device which may be installed in the standard low-down flush tank and which will, by difierent movements, cause the delivery of different amounts of water, at the will of the operator.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a flush tank valve operating mechanism for controlling the operation of two valves selectively to vary the. amounts of water delivered to the toilet bowl and capable of installation at the side of the front of a low-down flush tank.

Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of a handle-operated device for a flush tank valve operating mechanism to operate two valves selectively, the valves both being at the same side of the handle.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification and claims.

Referring to the drawing wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my invention installed in a .fiush tank, the front of the tank beingbroken away to more clearly illustrate In the installation of this new means for con' the working of the device, the handle being operated to produce a large flush.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the handle and its cooperating parts.

Figure 3 is a rear view of my invention showing 3 the handle operated for a small flush.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but for a large flush.

Similar reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the specification and drawing.

In the drawing for the sake of clearness, no illustration of the inlet controlling valve and its coacting devices, has been made.

The numeral 10 designates the body of a lowdown closet flush tank to which my invention is illustrated as being attached. It is usual to find the handle for flushing such a tank either at the left end of the tank or at the left side of the front thereof. The present device is shown as used with this latter construction.

The operating handle ll is provided with a shaft 12 which passes through the usual brushing which is located within the wall of the body 10 of the tank. A pintle-supporting arm 13, which extends to the left as the tank is faced is threadedly connected to the brushing. At the outer end of this pintle supporting arm 13 is-a pintle 13*.

On the pintle 13 are mounted two valve-operating arms 14 and 15. The valve-operating arm leis shorter than the valve operating arm 15. The arm l l is provided at its outer end with a plurality of adjusting holes 14* in one of which is located an operating rod 16 which is slidably connected to the valve rod 16 which latter at its lower end is connected to the usual ball-valve 1'7. The valve seat 18 which receives the valve 17 is located above the level of the bottom of the tank and above the other valve to be described and is provided to give a smaller flush since it empties the tank only to its own level.

The valve seat 18 is mounted at the top of an adjustable sleeve 19 which isthreadedly connected toa tube 20. The tube 20 has a horizontal extension 20 which in turn is connected to the tank outlet pipe 21;

The outlet pipe 21 leads to the toilet bowl which is not illustrated.

The valve rod l6 passes through a guide 22 which is supported from a guide bracket 22 The guide bracket 22 is supported from the usual overflow-pipe 23 which empties into the extension 20* to which it is connected.

slidably connected to a valve rod 24".

The valve operating arm 15 has a plurality of openings at 15 in one of which is located a valveoperating rod 24. The valve-operating rod 24 is At the lower end of the rod '24 is the common ballvalve 25 which is seated in the valve-seat 26 located in the top of the extension 20. It is thus evident that the water which passes the valve seat 26, passes through the pipe 21 and to the closet bowl (not shown).

Removably secured to the shaft 12 and to pivot therewith, is a sleeve 27 to which are secured the arm-lifting means new to be described. In

order to provide a selective'connection between the single handle 11 and the two operating arms 14 and 15, the sleeve 27 is provided with a plate 28 having rightand left extensions as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 4. These extensions carry projections 29 and 30 which operate selectively the operating arms 14 and 15 depending upon which way the sleeve is pivoted by the operation of the handle 11.

The projection 29 extends rearwardly to be in position to engage the underside of the operating arm 14 when the handle 11 is pivoted one way while the projection 30 extends, forward to engage the underside of the arm 15 when the handle 11 is moved in the opposite direction. Since the projections 29 and 30 are on opposite sides of. the fulcrum Which is the shaft 12, the movement of the handle 11 in eitherdirection, raises one of the projections. 29, 30 and at the same time, lowers'the other. It is therefore obvious that the handle 11 controls the movement of the operating arms 14, 15 selectively. This selective control of the arms 14, 15, controls the operation of the valves 1'7 and 25. Since these are at diiferent levels, it is possible to empty.

into the closet bowl a greater or lesser amount of water as may be desired.

As many people have a tendency to turn the flush tank handle too far, I have provided means for limiting its movement in either direction. The plate 28 is provided with small projections 31, 32 which extend respectively over the tops of the operating arms 14, 15 in positions to limit movement of therespective arms when the latter are lifted to raise the respective valves 17 and 25. It will be noted that since the projections 31, 32 are always in their relatively fixed position respective to each other and the projections 29 and 30, it is never necessary to give them any adjustment.

In operation, suitable indicia would be placed on the operating handle 11 or onthe face'of the valve operating device so constructed as to be installed in the common low flush tank, without alteration of the tank and by using the single opening provided for the usual handle.

While I have illustrated in detail one embodiment of my invention, it is desired to have it understood that this is merely illustrative and that modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim 1s:-

1. A flush tank two-valve operating means for operating selectively two valves of a closet flush tank, comprising a single handle and separate connections extending from the single handle toward one side to operatively connect the valves for operating the latter selectively.

2. A flush tank two-valve operating mechanism for operating selectively two valves of a closet flush tank, comprising a single handle and separate connections extending from the single handle toward one side to operatively connect the valves to operate one valve when the handle is moved in one direction and the other valve when the handle is moved in the opposite direction.

3. A flush tank two-valve operating means for selectively operating two valves of a closet flush tank, comprising a single handle for the outside of the tank, a shaft connected to the handle for extending through the wall of the tank, arms extending from adjacent the shaft into positions to operate the valves respectively and independently and selective means connecting the arms and shaft to operate one arm when the shaft is rotated in one direction and the other arm when operated in the other direction.

4. A flush tank two-valve operating means for selectively operating two valves of a closet flush tank, comprising a single handle for the outside of the tank, a shaft connected to the handle for extending through the wall of the tank, pivoted arms extending to positions to operate the valves respectively and independently and projecting means in position to lift the arms and under control and movable by the operation of the handle to lift one or another of the pivote arms, at will, to open the valves.

5. In combination, a flush tank, an outlet, an operating handle opening adjacent one end of the tank, two valves within the tank and connected to control admission of water to the outlet, a single operating handle, connections passing through the operating handle opening, selective means for independently operating, at will, either valve from the movements of the operating handle, the two valves being at one side of the operating handle.

6. A flush tank two-valve operating means for selectively operating two valves of a closet flush tank, comprising a single handle for the outside of the tank, a shaft connected to the handle for extending through the wall of the tank, a bushing surrounding the shaft and of a length to extend through the wall of the tank, a pintle arm threadedly secured to the bushing and having a pintle at one side of the shaft, a plurality of valve operating arms pivoted on the pintle and extending to positions to independently lift. the respective valves, a sleeve mounted on and rotating with the shaft, projections secured to the sleeve and in position to lift the arms selectively depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle and shaft, other projections secured to the sleeve and in position to limit the movement of the operating arms and means for connecting thearms with the valves.

7. In combination, a flush tank having an outlet, an operating handle opening adjacent one end of the tank, two-valve openings connecting the outlet with the interior of the tank, valves in the valve openings, a single operating handle connection in the handle opening, selectively movable operating arms, connections from the arms to the respective valves and connecting means between the handle connection to operate one valve when the handle is operated in one direction and the other valve when the handle is operated in another direction.

8. In combination, a flush tank having an outlet, an operating handle opening adjacent one end of the tank, two valve openings connecting the outlet with the interior of the tank, valves in the valve openings, a single operating handle, a shaft connected to the handle and extending through the wall of .the tank, a bushing surrounding the shaft and in the wall of the tank, a pintle arm threadedly secured to the bushing and having a pintle at one side of the shaft, a plurality of selectively movable valve operating arms pivoted on the pintle and extending to positions to lift the respective valves, a sleeve mounted on and rotating with the shaft, projections secured to the sleeve and in position to lift the arms selectively depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle and shaft, means for limiting the movement of the handle in either direction and connecting means between the valves and operating arms.

CHARLES WATKINS BROWN. 

